Author Topic: New 45-70 barrel is a shooter! (Read 1420 times)

thejanitor · « **on:** October 17, 2010, 11:32:08 AM »

Hey everybody, I just wanted to thank every one who has replied giving info or traded or sold me stuff here. The 45-70 barrel (I got here) I set up about 2 weeks ago I took to the range today to dial in hunting loads. 405 remingtons (I bought here) with Petemi's load (of course I got here) had three shots showing 2 holes at 100yds and the 4th shot connected the holes.... That was SO cool. The 300 gr remington HP(sorry I got these at Cabelas) is one inch high at 100yds and the 405s are about 1.5 inch below a 2" bulls eye at 100.
My son will be hunting with 405s in his Handi and I plan to hunt with 300s in mine. Thanks everybody, we hope to make some meat pretty soon. MT Season opens in a week and our plan is to get does there and come back home to MN the next weekend and get bucks (um or maybe a doe

). So we will see how that works out. May have some Handi pics after the hunt. Stay safe, thejanitor
I forgot about the brass- Thats all from here too!

tacklebury · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2010, 12:36:45 PM »

Congrats! Hope you and the boy both knock one down.

petemi · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2010, 02:42:04 PM »

I'm almost as new to that load as you are. but the first three rounds I shot put a big grin on my face. I think it's a keeper. I've shot quite a few more, but not at deer yet. I don't have my data in front of me, it's down at the reloading room, but if I recall correctly that load was running at 1900+. That ought to turn a whitetail inside out.

Have a good hunt,

Pete

thejanitor · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2010, 03:09:06 PM »

I know that load makes my forehead feel like a chickadee hitting the window.... scope is a little close.

But after I add some lead shot to the stock it won't jump quite as much. In my sons gun it didn't jump nearly as much, we added shot to his stock the first day we brought it home. This barrel is on my 7mm-08 frame and I really don't need any extra weight then, so may need to go with the copper pipe filled with melted lead so it is quick and easy to remove when I swap barrels. But the load prints so good I am not changing anything about that.
But with the 300 grainers it didn't jump nearly as much. As much as I hate recoil the accuracy is a very nice change for me...... None of my other handis shoot this good. My x-favorite, the topper 30-30 was the most accurate but it isn't this accurate. Don't get me wrong they all will kill deer and hold killing groups out to 200 - 250 yds but this one is a tight shooter. Pretty cool. Thanks GBO group. thejanitor

JerryKo · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2010, 01:46:55 AM »

Glad it found a good home. Good luck on the hunt.

Jerry

Singlebarrel · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2010, 11:34:14 AM »

I ordered a Limbsaver grind-to-fit pad for my 45-70. It was not much to put on and really took the recoil to a lower level. Twenty rounds off the bench is no problem now with the 45-70. My 7m-08 barrel with this setup has practically no recoil at all. Beats adding lead and really works if you don't mind spending another $45.

BluDino · « **Reply #6 on:** November 03, 2010, 02:26:22 PM »

You must get reloading equipment. Mine shoots half to three quarters of an inch all day if I do my part. Sounds like you have a great shooter, now it's time to see what it will really do.

petemi · « **Reply #7 on:** November 04, 2010, 06:59:27 AM »

Quote from: BluDino on November 03, 2010, 02:26:22 PM

You must get reloading equipment. Mine shoots half to three quarters of an inch all day if I do my part. Sounds like you have a great shooter, now it's time to see what it will really do.

He reloads. That's how he built the ammo he's shooting. Some of us...me included, don't see or shoot so well in our old age. I'm very happy with 1 - 1.5 inch groups at 100. Most times that's the best this old body can do. I'll bet his son can squeeze out a tighter group. You're all correct; the .45-70 is a shooter. It was my first Handi, and I love it.

Pete

Old Fart · « **Reply #8 on:** November 04, 2010, 09:24:58 AM »

I got to say that my 45-70 BC is clearly my favorite Handi.
And I mean by far also.

There's just something satifying about those big old holes it punches in paper.
Even with my failing eyesight I can still kind of see them at 100 yds when the sun shines through from the backside.

It was also my first Handi.
Since it I have picked up several more.

thejanitor · « **Reply #9 on:** November 04, 2010, 10:54:37 AM »

After deer season I will be working more with cast bullets and Trail boss. We had fun shooting a little with the TB loads before, but now that we are all dialed in for deer we aren't messing with the others until deer season is over, but did wonder if anyone hunted with the 405gr cast and trailboss for close in shots. Let me know how it worked if you ever have. Thanks,
thejanitor

JerryKo · « **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2010, 11:18:17 AM »

405 grain lazercasts and (55 weighed grains) compressed case of blackpowder substitute (cleanshot ) 60 yards bang flop.

I suppose that's about as close to a trailboss load as I got.
Jerry

thejanitor · « **Reply #11 on:** November 04, 2010, 07:11:11 PM »

Thanks Jerry, any idea the speed that load may have been going? Our 12 gr of trailboss with a 405 gr cast are less than 1000 fps. and are just plain fun to shoot. I figured they would take a close deer just fine, but wasn't sure how close. I will do some penetration tests before any actual hunting next year to see what it will go through out to 100 yds. Then may carry it in the bog/swamp for short shots. I figure for sure it will work at close "archery" type distances. But will research it before hunting with that load. Thanks thejanitor

petemi · « **Reply #12 on:** November 05, 2010, 05:32:24 AM »

I don't think I'd load the 405s any below 14 - 1500. I'd want a dead deer, and not a chase. Loads below a thousand punch nice holes in paper, but I'm not too confident in what they'd do to venison. To me, a thirty yard shot and a 300 yard shot require the same bullet.....one that bang flops. Last year, I watched deer at about 225 yards in the same place during rifle and ML seasons. I had the .44 mag during rifle and the .50 Huntsman during ML. I never took as shot. The time was the same, dark thirty, quarter after five. I was not about to go running off tracking a wounded deer in the dark, so I let them walk and was skunked for the seasons. If I were packing the .45-70 running close to 2 grand, and knowing the drop, It could have put venison in the freezer.

Pete

JerryKo · « **Reply #13 on:** November 05, 2010, 05:52:25 AM »

I'm pretty sure it was in the 12 to 13 hundred fps range. I could shot the load all day if I had too. I agree with Pete. Don't think I'd go much lower if I didn't have too. Although I'm sure under 40 yards a 405 cast will punch through and bleed a deer out. Just not sure if it would knock it down. And I like to be sure. (45 acp 230 grain under a thousand fps is a man stopper??? So a 405 is almost double) Forgoing any more about deer loads...I'll just end it now.

Jerry

petemi · « **Reply #14 on:** November 05, 2010, 06:40:12 AM »

Good to hear from you, Jerry. I just never know if the shots gonna be 30 yards or 300. I try to be loaded for the long one......and yeah, I'm too old to go running around the woods at night looking for a wounded deer. If there's any doubt they're gonna die immediately, the trigger stays untouched. I guess it is the same arguement heard time and time again....some folks want to use a tiny fast bullet.....223 or .22-250, while I like a huge slowish lump of lead knocking them off their pins, leaving them dead right there....and, those big, fat .45-70s do exactly that. The Maxi, .44 mag, .445 and .45LC will do the same at shorter range. Big lump of slow lead.

Pete

thejanitor · « **Reply #15 on:** November 05, 2010, 06:59:51 AM »

True enough guys! We already have the perfect 405 Jacketed load, why fix what isn't broke. I will play with the cast TB loads in the gravel pit and stick to the hot loads on the hunt. Thanks for the replies! thejanitor

petemi · « **Reply #16 on:** November 05, 2010, 09:23:13 AM »

thejanitor, you and the younguns have done good

I agree, shoot to kill and shoot what kills best. You can punch a hole in paper with just about anything.

Pete

tobster · « **Reply #17 on:** November 05, 2010, 09:41:43 AM »

FWIW- I've had a couple of bad experiences with the Remington 300hps in the 45-70 on whitetail. Bullet is too frangible for my taste. Anybody else experience this?

petemi · « **Reply #18 on:** November 05, 2010, 10:02:33 AM »

Quote from: tobster on November 05, 2010, 09:41:43 AM

FWIW- I've had a couple of bad experiences with the Remington 300hps in the 45-70 on whitetail. Bullet is too frangible for my taste. Anybody else experience this?

I haven't, but I am curious about the speed you are pushing it. It seems to me the quicker they go the quicker they come apart. If they break up at trap door levels, they're useless in my mind. I for one have no problem with 1500 to 1600 fps .45-70s for whitetails inside a hundred yards or so. I never hunt with anything that slow because I never know if I'll need a 2 - 3 hundred yard shot. I'm a two gunner when it comes to hunting deer here at home. I usually take something like the .445, or Maxi and the .45-70, because I never know if I'm gonna shoot 10 yards or 310 yards.

Yeah, I know, I could pack the .308 or '06 and carry only one......but it wouldn't be as much fun. Or for that matter, just take the .45-70.....again...it wouldn't be as much fun.

Pete

thejanitor · « **Reply #19 on:** November 05, 2010, 10:22:46 AM »

300 gr. jhp - Well I will be letting you know if I get the chance. I am sighted in with those for deer and will maybe find out in the morning. But I do know the 405s shoot like 3.5 inches lower so if I need to shoot the 405 loads I can (just hold over), but really wanted to try the 300 jhp to see how they work. My boss said yesterday he had a 45-70 way back when and hated it with 405s because they just punched a hole through with no expansion.... That was NOT the case when my son shot the MT whitetail. So I know the 405s will work very well, I just hope this bit of new info doesn't hold true for the 300s I will be bummed if I just shoot the hide off and get no terminal damage. But I will check the speed before hunting, I believe we are pushing them pretty good.

May have something to add to this thread after the weekend. thejanitor

petemi · « **Reply #20 on:** November 05, 2010, 02:33:14 PM »

Good luck on the hunt this weekend.

Pete

tobster · « **Reply #21 on:** November 05, 2010, 03:04:19 PM »

I believe mine were in the neighborhood of 1800fps.

moto357 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 05, 2010, 03:41:16 PM »

im curious of the loads you guys seem to be sharing good results with using both the 405 and 300 rems.

thanks

thejanitor · « **Reply #23 on:** November 05, 2010, 04:05:36 PM »

Our 300 gr is doing aprox 1900 if my books and gun are matched. But I believe my barrel is shorter so maybe the 1800 like you said.

These are the only loads we have so far for the 45-70s at our house.
405 gr cast - 9.5 rem primer 12 gr trailboss = FUN

300 gr Rem JHP, 9.5 rem primer, 47.5 gr IMR 4198 COAL 2.550
405 gr Rem Jsp, 9.5 rem primer, 45.8 gr IMR 4198 COAL 2.592 = hold on to your hat!

Make sure you find these in a documented reloading book or other trust worthy location before you use them. They are not all for the wimpy guns. CHECK IT OUT! This is my disclaimer.....
thejanitor

moto357 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 05, 2010, 07:22:31 PM »

had a custom smokeless ML and using 46gr IMR4198 was getting an avg just over 2000fps. this was an accurate load and didn't have brutal recoil i felt. seems this load would be perfect for these!